Clinical trials are one of the cornerstones of medicine and scientific advancement, driving progress across nearly every area of healthcare. Their role is essential in translating scientific discovery into real-world treatments patients can trust.
Clinical trials also provide essential insight into how treatments affect different populations, evaluate safety and effectiveness, and deepen understanding of disease progression. This evidence equips clinicians and researchers with reliable data to guide medical decision-making and improve patient outcomes.
One of the most serious challenges, however, is clinical trial enrollment. It can be very difficult to recruit participants for studies, and even more difficult to ensure that those who do participate come from all socioeconomic backgrounds and demographics.
There are solutions to this challenge that can help expand participation and support more inclusive, effective clinical research. Read on to learn more.
Clinical trial enrollment issues occur for numerous reasons, beginning with potential participants not being aware that the trials are taking place. Even when potential participants are aware of a given clinical trial, misunderstandings about study procedures, safety, and potential risks may discourage participation.
Many potential participants also face financial and logistical barriers. They may not be able to take time off from work to be part of an out-of-state trial, or they may struggle to find transportation to take them to the location. Finding and affording childcare services, too, can put a burden on participants in lower socioeconomic rungs.
Even if a facility can recruit participants, some of the same issues could lead them to abandon the trial halfway through. This is more likely to occur if patients are not sure what the trial is for or if there are overly complex processes in which they have to participate.
Overcoming enrollment barriers requires a combination of data-driven recruitment, patient education, and streamlined study design. The strategies below highlight a few of the most effective options to improve clinical trial enrollment.
Technological advances are forging the path when it comes to solving enrollment challenges. One of the most effective ways of reducing the need for participants to constantly travel onsite to get assessments is utilizing wearable technology. Smart devices, like sensors, offer real-time data as well as adherence tracking.
Additionally, digital recruitment offers powerful opportunities to expand trial visibility and reach qualified participants. Targeted online advertising, patient portals, and AI-driven matching tools help streamline recruitment and identify eligible candidates more efficiently.
The public may not be aware that a trial is occurring, or they may not know what that trial is about and whether it’s safe. Reaching out to local staff, like community clinic physicians, can be an excellent way to raise awareness.
It’s also important to create patient-facing educational materials that clearly explain what the clinical trial is about and what it could mean for their community. Combined with digital outreach and multi-channel community engagement, these efforts can significantly expand awareness and understanding.
It’s also possible to plan decentralized clinical trials. These are trials that incorporate some home-based assessments with mobile sites. Although these may not be appropriate for all types of studies, especially those that require the use of calibrated equipment, they are an option for a variety of trials.
These types of clinical trials allow participants to access mobile sites more easily so that they don’t have to travel to the main trial site regularly. It’s also a good idea to incorporate direct-to-patient services, like shipping the investigational medication to each participant’s home and even offering home healthcare options.
A clinical trial is only as good as the quality and diversity of the participants it is able to recruit. Because of the many challenges involving recruitment and retention, it’s vital to consider the latest innovations, including modern technologies and patient-centric trial designs.
At Orlando Clinical Research Center, we provide modern facilities to conduct Phase I-IV clinical trials. We make the facilities as participant-friendly as possible and offer compensation for their time and travel expenses. Whether you’re considering joining one of our many clinical trials or starting one of your own at our location, contact our team to learn more about how we can help.
